City brings community and agency leaders together to strengthen violence intervention in Columbia

(COLUMBIA, MO) ~ Columbia, MO - The City of Columbia Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) recently collaborated with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR) to host a Violence Reduction Landscape Analysis Workshop. The event brought together various community-based organizations, service providers, and public agency partners to support a community-based approach in addressing the issue of community violence in Columbia.

The interactive workshop aimed to assess existing violence reduction efforts and develop shared definitions of community violence intervention (CVI) that take into account Columbia's unique geographic and cultural realities. It also provided an opportunity for stakeholders from across the city to identify strengths and areas for improvement within the city's violence intervention ecosystem.

According to D'Markus Thomas-Brown, administrator of the OVP, "Columbia already has many organizations and leaders working every day to reduce violence and support our residents. This workshop allowed us to step back, look at the full landscape of that work, and make sure we are aligned, coordinated, and investing where it will make the greatest difference. This is what our community deserves."

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The workshop also highlighted the importance of a modern OVP as a coordinating and supportive backbone for CVI efforts. This ensures that all community partners, public agencies, and service providers are working together to support those at the highest risk of violence.

Shantay Jackson, director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention at NICJR, emphasized the significance of being honest about where a city stands in terms of violence reduction efforts. "Cities that successfully reduce violence start by being honest about where they are - what's working, what's missing, and where they need to grow," she said. "This workshop is about bringing Columbia's partners into the same room to build a shared understanding of the work already happening and the opportunities to strengthen it."

The insights gathered from this workshop will be used to create a Violence Reduction Landscape Analysis Report that NICJR will deliver to the City of Columbia in the coming months. The Columbia Office of Violence Prevention is a member of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN), a national learning community of nearly 90 offices of violence prevention across the United States working to advance evidence-informed violence reduction strategies.

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In addition to the landscape analysis, NICJR will also work with the City of Columbia to complete several foundational violence reduction planning efforts. This includes conducting a Gun Violence Problem Analysis to identify patterns and drivers of violence in the community and developing Columbia's first comprehensive multi-year violence reduction strategic plan. These efforts will guide long-term investments and strategies aimed at sustainably reducing violence and improving community safety.

The City of Columbia is committed to addressing community violence and working towards creating a safer environment for its residents. With the support of organizations like NICJR and partnerships with various stakeholders, they are taking proactive steps towards achieving this goal.

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